Sturrock: 'Wrapped the players in cotton wool'; Samson: 'They've managed to sneak up the table'

25 February 2011 12:51

Both Southend United manager Paul Sturrock and Northampton Town boss Ian Sampson have their say before the vital League Two clash at Roots Hall Saturday afternoon. Sturrock: 'I'm not taking anything for granted right now' Blues boss Paul Sturrock is refusing to get carried away with his side's great run that's seen them rise up the table to just one point outside the top seven and the hallowed play-off positions, especially as the Cobblers are no mugs.Sturrock told www.southendunited.co.uk: "There are 15 games left so there is still a long way to go. We've done well over the last few weeks but I'm not taking anything for granted right now. It would be nice if we could get three points on Saturday and if that means we move into the play-offs then that is a bonus. But Northampton are a good side who have picked up a lot of draws recently so we won't be taking them lightly."Fair enough Luggs, but just how many of those crocked players should we see back?Sturrock continued: "We have a lot of injuries at the moment. I will have to wait until the last moment before deciding my team and see if some of them pass fitness tests. We've wrapped the players in cotton wool since Barnet with lots of regeneration work to make sure those that are available are as spritely as possible."Luggy went on to explain that the sheer volume of matches have led to tired legs towards the final quarter, Saturday will be their sixth this month and it would have been seven if Accrington had not been called off, but at least the depleted squad will be able to put their feet up for a week after this one, well, until training starts again anyway!He concluded: "There has been a lot of matches recently that have taken their toll and if we are to keep on the coattails of the top seven then we need everybody on top condition. But we saw that those that came in on Tuesday night can do a job when called upon."They certainly can, it's the legs of the others turning to stone that we're worried about, we struggled to hold on to a team at the bottom-of-the-table only four days before, the Cobblers will be a far tougher test, though they also played in midweek and have knocks and strains of their own.Shrimpers injury update: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/could_be_fine_for_ferdy__corr_not_so_great_for_granty_shrimpers_injury_update_650410/index.shtmlSouthend United; the League Two form team:www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/southend_united_top_of_the_form_league_can_they_keep_going_till_may_650085/index.shtmlThe S24 preview in full: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/roll/ed61/southend_united_v_northampton_town_650248/index.shtml try { FB.Event.subscribe('xfbml.render', function() { var fbTags = $('.facebookLike'); for(var i=0; iretweet-->Sampson: 'Our ambition is to get out of this league'Meanwhile, Cobblers boss Ian Sampson knows that games are running out to mount a serious assault on the play-offs and after five consequtive draws, a sixth will break a club record, his side need to start picking up three points sooner rather than later.Sampson told www.ntfc.co.uk: "Draws are no good, we need to win games. Our performance was much improved on Tuesday night and i was disappointed that we didn't take all three points. Kevin Thornton did well and he got us playing a little bit when he came on. Andy Holt did a good job up front and his physical presence makes it awkward for defenders."He returned to the theme of the Cobblers needing to grab some victories.Sampson continued: "We are disappointed to be on this run of draws because games are starting to run out. Our ambition is to get out of this league but it's getting more difficult because we are drawing too many games. I wasn't happy with a point on Tuesday because I thought our performance deserved all three but I was pleased with our performance considering the way we played in our two previous games. We said to the senior players at half-time that they had to stand up and be counted and I think thye did that in the second half."OK Ian, enough about your lot, what about the mighty Shrimpers?Sammo revealed all: "Southend have managed to sneak up the table with a couple of wins and that is something we need to emulate. They have got some decent players but we need to to go there and build on our performance on Tuesday night."Short but sweet. And then he went on again about turning one point into three, again, I think we get the er, point now Ian. More about the Cobblers injury situation:www.ntfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10425~2301131,00.html